Patrick Stilwell
Okay, this review WILL include TMI. My wife and I had some outstanding noodles with Alfredo sauce along with probably the best chicken nuggets we’ve ever had! The pasta is fresh and perfectly al dente, the sauce was lush, silky and flavorful. However, the star of the meal is the crispy Italian chicken…. It is slap you in the face good! Tender and juicy, bursting with flavor and absolutely some of the best tasting chicken we have ever had, no cap! That being said, not too long after the meal our tummies started to rumble. This was not a drill, this was a find a loo with haste situation! All I can say is it was soo good going in that it was worth the extreme elimination! Run, do not walk to get that chicken! I will skip the pasta next time and eat all that chicken my myself! And be near proper facilities for the aftermath!
To those about to nosh, I am envious and salute you!
… morePeggy Crane
We tried 3 different pastas- all the ones we wanted were available, which I consider a win! This place has been so popular, they routinely sell out of certain dishes. We did wait almost an hour for our food. The pasta was good, the focaccia was really good, and the spritz was tasty! The only downside was the parking and the wait for food.
… moreAmanda Nitza
First time trying this new spot inside Optimist Hall. Services was great and the food was impeccable. I ordered a large Bucatini Cacio e Pepe with Sausage and Focaccia bread. The taste was superb, I couldn’t stop eating. Kudos to the Chef and staff for bringing delight to our tastebuds. Highly recommend.
… morekeela
I had to give y’all an up close and personal shot of this delicious a$$ Bucatini Cacio E Pepe….. Aka cheese and pepper. Made with Romano cheese, black pepper , and handmade homemade pasta. I loved the thickness….and softness of the Bucatini. Fresh coarse pepper mixed with the cheese sauce made every bit worth biting. Check’em out. #GratuityAdded
#charlotteeats #OptimistHall #ESOArtisanalPasta #CltLunchDates
… moreKamilia
I came across the perfect time no line! However, that online order line was jumping. I wanted the Ragu but it was out so I settled on the Penne Alla Vodka (Small) and Meatballs. I tried the pasta and it was scrumptious. EXTRA LARGE noods freshly made Penne with a great bite and super sauce-E. I loved the sauce tucked in the noods and the pecorino romano. It added a nutty salty flavor that was very home-E. Now, those Meatballs were nothing to play with. They are on the small side but they’ll make you wanna throw your glasses (Jordan) cause they’re fall off the bone moist. Not to mention they’re covered in sauce.; which I will NOT let go to waste. The sauce is rich and robust with large chunks of herbs. It’s fresh and tangy with a wonderful earthy bite. I’m not sharing with anyone they’re so good. I don’t know the meat mixture but I’m sure it’s NOT all beef. Either way you’ll feel like you’re fine dining with every bite.
… moreJulie Stevens
I came to Optimist Hall specifically to try this place. I had the meatballs and the ragu.
It was good. Not the best I’ve had, but definitely good.
I do recommend the extra sauce. And I would probably get the chili peppers added. I think that would be an excellent compliment.
… moreTonya Russ Price
My favorite type of restaurant is unexpected, over the top delicious food and priced reasonably. Eso Artisanal is just that, a little unassuming food stall located inside of Optimist Hall, serving handmade pasta. Don’t get to set on a menu item, because the menu changes. I have eaten here four times and have never been disappointed. And the owner told me tonight they sell wine, so don’t forget to order some wine and tiramisu.
… moreJanice DeJesus
Ordered the Penne alla vodka with focaccia on the side. The texture of the pasta was absolutely phenomenal, the sauce was just kind of mid for me though. The flavor was just not there for me. Focaccia tasted fresh but didn’t have a ton of flavor, very plain. All in all, I will be back to try another sauce and pasta combination.
… moreJulia McCarthy
Oh boy oh boy oh boy!!!! I am so beyond THRILLED that ESO has arrived on the Charlotte door scene! I ate here last night for the first time and wow did it live up to the hype! First off, the crew working there was incredibly friendly and happy to help. Secondly the pasta was AMAZING! I ordered the ragu and penne vodka and omg the way that I was dancing in my seat while eating them! I was thrilled to see vodka sauce on the menu- you can’t really find it at many places and as soon as I opened the box the smell of the (Romano or maybe it was Parmesan?) cheese that they sprinkle on top absolutely smacked me in the face in the best possible way. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the sauces were deeeeelicious! None of it was overly salty (like some previous reviews mention) and I can tell it was made with love and care. I’m so excited to eat my leftovers today! I absolutely can not wait to go back and try other dishes, this is the only place I’ll go now when I’m craving Italian food. BRAVO to the entire team there- you can didn’t come to mess around and we are so blessed to have you here!! 10/10 stars!
… moreKandice Vera
I was really excited to try a pasta spot at Optimist Hall and had high expectations going in. While the pasta itself was cooked al dente, the overall dish didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I ordered the vodka pasta, and the flavor felt a bit more like a classic, familiar sauce rather than something freshly made. A few others in my group tried it as well and shared similar thoughts.
What really stood out, though, was the customer service. The staff was friendly, attentive, and more than willing to work with me to make things right, which I truly appreciated.
While the price felt a little high for what I received, I can see the potential here. With a few tweaks to the flavor and other meat this could be a great pasta option in Optimist Hall.
… more